Ruth Haines
Girona–Costa Brava Airport (IATA: GRO, ICAO: LEGE) is an airport located 12.5 km southwest of the city of Girona, next to the small village of Vilobí d'Onyar, in northeast Catalonia, Spain. The airport is well-connected to the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees and is used as an alternative airport for Barcelona, despite being 74 km north of the city centre. The airport offers bus, taxi, and train transportation options, with the closest main railway station located in Girona. Girona–Costa Brava Airport has a total of 46 destinations operated by 13 companies and has experienced significant growth in passenger numbers since the early 2000s, when Ryanair chose it as one of its European hubs.
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What You'll Learn
Location
Girona-Costa Brava Airport is located 12.5 km (7.8 mi) southwest of the city of Girona, next to the small village of Vilobí d'Onyar, in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain. The airport is well-connected to the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees, and it is about a 40-minute drive from the French border. It is also conveniently located for the resorts along the Costa Brava, such as Lloret de Mar, l'Estartit, and Blanes.
The closest mainline railway station to the airport is in Girona, while the closest railway station is Riudellots Halt, 4 km (2.5 mi) away. There is no train station at the airport itself, but there are plans to build one for the AVE line LGV Perpignan-Figueres, which passes within a few hundred meters of the terminal.
The airport can be accessed via the following roads: N-II, AP-7 (exit 8), and C-25. The exits from these roads link up with the airport access road.
Buses run throughout the day from the airport, with routes to Barcelona, central Girona, the north Costa Brava (including Tossa de Mar and Figueres), the south Costa Brava (such as Lloret de Mar), and even Perpignan in France. Taxis are also available and can provide door-to-door service to any destination.
For those travelling in groups, pre-booking a private transfer from the airport can be cost-effective. This can be done by looking for someone holding a sign with your name in arrivals.
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Transport options
Girona–Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is located 12.5 km (7.8 mi) southwest of the city of Girona, Spain. It is well-connected to the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees and is used as an alternative airport for Barcelona, although it is 74 km (46 mi) north of the city centre.
Bus
There are several bus routes that connect the airport to destinations up and down the Costa Brava, including Barcelona, central Girona, Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, and even Perpignan in France. The bus is considered the best way to get to and from the airport, with routes 605, 607, and L-28 providing efficient, fast, and convenient trips from the city centre to the airport every day of the year. It is recommended to leave a minimum of one hour for the journey from the city centre to the airport.
There are two bus companies operating services from the airport: Barcelona Bus (operated by Sagales) and Moventis/Sarfa Bus (operated by Sarbus). Tickets can be purchased in advance from the ticket office in the airport, which is open 18 hours a day from 08:00 to 02:00, or on the day of travel.
Taxi
Taxis provide a door-to-door service from the airport and can take passengers anywhere. The taxi rank is located just outside the terminal.
Train
There is no train station at the airport, but the closest main-line railway station is in Girona, and the closest railway station is Riudellots Halt, 4 km (2.5 mi) away.
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Passenger numbers
Girona-Costa Brava Airport (IATA: GRO, ICAO: LEGE) is located 12.5 km (7.8 mi) southwest of the city of Girona, next to the small village of Vilobí d'Onyar, in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain. The airport is well connected to the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees and is used as an alternative airport for Barcelona, although it is 74 km (46 mi) north of the city centre.
Girona Airport was built in 1965, but passenger traffic was modest in the early years. In 1993, the airport dealt with only 275,000 passengers. However, the early 2000s saw passenger numbers grow significantly after Ryanair chose Girona as one of its European hubs, marketing it as 'Barcelona-Girona'. From 2002 to 2008, passenger numbers increased by nearly ten times, from just over 500,000 to more than 5.5 million.
The massive growth in passenger numbers at Girona Airport in the early 2000s can be attributed mainly to Ryanair's decision to establish a hub at the airport. Ryanair's marketing of Girona Airport as 'Barcelona-Girona' also played a significant role in attracting more passengers. The airport's proximity to popular tourist destinations, such as the resorts along the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees, also contributed to its increasing popularity.
However, after 2008, passenger numbers at Girona Airport started to decline. In 2011, Ryanair began to move its Barcelona operations from Girona to the larger El Prat International Airport. This resulted in a significant drop in passenger numbers at Girona Airport. By 2012, the number of passengers had decreased to 2.8 million. The decline continued, with less than 2.2 million passengers passing through the airport in 2014 and only 1.6 million in 2016.
Several factors contributed to the decline in passenger numbers at Girona Airport after 2008. Firstly, the global economic crisis affected the aviation industry, leading to a decrease in air travel demand. Secondly, the expansion of Barcelona Airport and the opening of new terminals created spare capacity, attracting airlines and passengers away from Girona Airport. Additionally, Ryanair's decision to move many of its flights to Barcelona and the various issues in 2010, such as bad weather, the volcanic eruption in Iceland, and air traffic controllers' strikes, also impacted the airport's passenger numbers.
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Facilities
Girona–Costa Brava Airport is located 12.5 km southwest of the city of Girona, next to the small village of Vilobí d'Onyar, in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain. The airport is well connected to the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees. It is also used as an alternative airport for Barcelona, although it is 74 km north of the city centre.
Girona–Costa Brava Airport consists of a two-storey passenger terminal building. The ground floor is for arrivals and has 33 check-in desks. The first floor is for departures and has 11 boarding gates for both domestic and international flights.
There is no train station at the airport. The closest stop is at Riudellots, 4-5 km away, and the central station in Girona is 15 km away. There are four bus routes offered at the airport, which can take passengers to Barcelona, central Girona, the north Costa Brava, the south Costa Brava, and Perpignan in France. Buses run throughout the day, from around 5:30 am to 12:30 am. Taxis are also available and provide a door-to-door service.
Passengers can also pre-book a transfer from the airport by looking for someone holding a sign with their name in arrivals. Pre-booking a private transfer can be cost-effective for groups.
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Destinations
Located 12.5 km southwest of the city of Girona, in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain, the Girona-Costa Brava Airport is a convenient gateway to the resorts along the Costa Brava. The airport is well-connected to the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees, and serves as an alternative airport to Barcelona, despite being 74 km north of the city centre.
The airport has a total of 46 destinations operated by 13 companies. It is about a 40-minute drive from the French border, making it a popular entry point for those travelling to the Pyrenees and the ski resorts of Andorra.
For those wishing to explore the Costa Brava, the airport offers easy access to popular resorts such as Lloret de Mar, l'Estartit, and Blanes. The North Costa Brava route includes stops at picturesque towns such as Figueres, Roses, and Tossa de Mar, while the South Costa Brava route takes travellers to vibrant destinations like Malgrat de Mar, Santa Susanna, and Calella de la Costa.
Girona-Costa Brava Airport provides convenient transportation options to its passengers. The airport is well-served by buses, with four bus routes that can take travellers to Barcelona, central Girona, and various destinations along the North and South Costa Brava. Taxis are also readily available, offering door-to-door service to anywhere in the region. Additionally, for those wishing to travel by train, the closest mainline railway station is in Girona, with Riudellots Halt being the nearest station, just 4 km away from the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Girona-Costa Brava Airport is located 12.5 km southwest of the city of Girona, next to the small village of Vilobí d'Onyar, in northeast Catalonia, Spain.
You can get to the airport by bus, taxi, or train. The closest railway station is Riudellots Halt, 4 km away.
The airport has 33 check-in desks, 11 boarding gates, and several shops and restaurants, including McDonald's, Subway, and a restaurant serving Mediterranean food. There are also three smoking areas and a few play areas for kids.
